September 30, 2006

Japan Book Report

Click here to listen to Japanese garden music.Download file
This was assigned two weeks ago and students were given all materials at that time. Here's a posting for your reference.
Students read five books this year, which count toward their total ofat least twenty five books for 7th grade. They will complete a different book report, assigned by the GIA, for each book read.

Our first book report is on Japan and is due November 2. Attached is a more detailed list of suggested titles and a description. Other titles can be used if approved by the CEO! Download file
Here's the scoop on creating your beautiful scrapbook report!Download file
Japan Scrapbook Rubric can be downloaded here:Download file

September 24, 2006

Breaking Bread, Bridging Cultures

Double click on the picture for a closer look!
Did you know that studying BREAD is teaching the NATIONAL social studies standards?
The physical and human characteristics of places.
The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface.
The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.W.O.W. We'll have a BREAD experience on October 2. Details to come soon on this site and we'll talk about our plans in class as well!
Take this quiz on simple breads of the world.
You can then scroll down and check your answers!
Download fileExplore this AWESOME site designed for teachers...be sure to read the HISTORY of BREAD
http://www.botham.co.uk/seed/first.htm

We'll be bakin, breakin' and shakin' with a cool floury mission! Breaking Bread, Bridging Cultures will take place October 2, 2006!
HERE ARE THE DIRECTIONS FOR THIS PROJECT!

...You'll work in DYADS or TRIADS (2-3 students)
...A list of bread ideas, recipes, locations to buy international breads is listed below!
...You'll want to serve your bread with a topping that is traditionally used...such as jam with scones, hummus with pita, bruschetta with Italian bread, etc.
...We'll photograph your bread the day you bring it in to class
...You'll have a paragraph description ready about the HISTORY of your bread. Be ready to explain the history of your bread to your classmates.

During class we'll introduce the bread, enjoy sampling it, and listen to your story about your bread. You will type in your information on a PowerPoint or Keynote slide. We'll add your picture to a slide, too, so each class will have a slide show of international breads. YUM!

PLACES TO FIND INTERESTING BREAD:
Harry's has a great selection from flat breads you would serve with hummus to brioche to foccacia, ciabatta, perhaps naan bread. Crumpets, scones, croissants, are also availble at Harry's.
If you want to be adventurous...
Try: Petra Mediterranean Grocery...on Canton Highway
The Australian Bakery on the Marietta Square (where bread may translate to meat pie...)
http://www.australianbakery.com/Douceur de France-a French bakery off Atlanta Road
http://www.douceurdefrance.com/DONG BANG ORIENTAL GROCERY & GIFTS is right off 41 near Southern PolyTech

Raymond suggested the European Specialty Deli on Canton Rd. and Highway 92. I've never been so I am excited! Thanks, Raymond!

We're sure many of you have other interesting resources! Please share. Hopefully you'll garner some ideas for bringing the world to your kitchen table!
If you want to BAKE, there are tons of international recipes online and in COBB ONLINE RESOURCES under CULTUREGRAMS. HAVE FUN!
REMEMBER! DO NOT bring a piece of bread for the entire class! (18-21 students in each class) Just a quarter piece for everyone is fine, and then you can introduce your FAMILY to the rest of your new bread and enjoy it at home!

September 14, 2006

Explore online with Kids Web Japan, a delightful site which will move through myriad cultural, historical,and technological aspects of Japan. Students will complete a THINK TAC TOE or Choice Board of activities in partners. Choices involve selecting from a variety of software programs to create a brochure, a table, a scavenger hunt or other items to document their learning. MAC Lab September 25, 26, 27! Download your assignment here!

TUESDAY homework is fun with Japanese numbers and compare/contrast Japan and U.S. education.

WEDNESDAY homework is fun with the Japanese language.

PLEASE NOTE, occasionally we lose our server so if we have a technology glitch, we'll have time to work in class. We won't present these projects until the end of NEXT week, so we will be ready!

THURSDAY: Japanese Cultural Encounters is a very interesting activity taken from a book I purchased in Japan. Students will read a scenario of a social or business situation involving Japanese and Americans and choose from several solutions. It is readily apparent that Japanese customs are extremely different from ours!

Homework: We'll take a look at Japanese proverbs and try to interpret them!

MONDAY: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY TEST TODAY! We'll discuss the Chapter 27 Review today which introduces the people, government, economy, arts and recreation of Japan. Students will begin to take CORNELL notes on the history of Japan. Homework: Label a map of Japan identifying the four islands, important cities, bodies of water. Students will be tested on this map on Friday.
TUESDAY: We'll continue exploring the history of Japan by creating a Cornell Note timeline from the Feudal period to post WWII Japan. Homework: Reading on Ancient Japan and Samurai/Shogun Venn diagram.
WEDNESDAY: Discuss the homework from last night. We'll also finish out discussion of the brief timeline of Japanese history. Students, put those NOTES in your notebook! You will need them for the Japanese final in several weeks.
DEAR-DROP EVERYTHING AND READ!! THIS IS EARLY RELEASE DAY! ENJOY!
THURSDAY: We'll explore the Japanese economy through a lesson entitled JAPANESE GIANT, reviewing economic concepts such as globalization, interdependence, trade surplus and GDP. Students will use the "yen" to make purchases and homework will be to research a Japanese product for purchase. This becomes detailed, so this homework will be due on Monday,
FRIDAY: Japan map test is POSTPONED until further notice. We have a number of students will be out of town, plus we may add a few physical features to that map.
The Japanese economy will be further examined today through discussion and notetaking about the current economic status of Japan. Students will complete an inductive learning activity where they group and label vocabulary learned as they read the Japan chapter. They will then generate sentence summaries using that vocabulary.
Today students will be assigned their first book report, which counts toward the 25 books they'll read in the 7th grade. Their assignment is involved and counts as a major project. Read the special section below on the book report information!

Click the link above to download your instructions for the Japan Book report. This is an exciting project with beautiful results! Please do not overspend buying scrapbook materials...as some students have done in the past! Students can draw or use color graphics. Interesting paper for the covers, or for the pages, is very effective. ALL scrapbooks must be word processed. We'll thoroughly review the assignment in class and look at some examples from last year's projects.

I have a few novels I will lend to students, the media center has a few, or you can order a copy of a novel of your student's choice at Chapter 11 in the Publix shopping center or other nearby bookstores. This is the first of five historical fiction/biographical novels students will read this year, and counts toward their total of 25 books.

September 11, 2006

MAPS

Thanks, SPECIAL AGENT Alexa, for sending me a tip on a map site. Alert agents are valued in the GIA! We'll use a variety of maps throughout the year. Here are a few sites we use each year. Students, if you want to be mentioned as a SPECIAL AGENT on the blog, bring in links or materials we can use in class. SPECIAL AGENTS Christian, Julia, ......have already done so!
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STUDENT ATLAShttp://java.nationalgeographic.com/studentatlas/

MAPS 101http://www.maps101.com/
Maps 101 is available to all students, parents and teachers of Cobb county. Students may use this site at home and we will be using the site at school.
User Name: mabry
Password: cobb312

September 10, 2006

September 11-15

From last week...we're finishing up the physical geography of South East Asia. Students are completing maps that they've labeling with physical and political features. The political map test is Wednesday, the physical map test is next Monday. Don't forget to bring in your crossword puzzles from Friday.

MONDAY/TUESDAY: It's the 5th anniversary of 9/11 and since we will be studying the Middle East later this year, we're going to take a look at issues surrounding the War on Terrorism. Interestingly enough, in combination with Tuesday we'll have some very unique lessons. Constitution Day is nationally recognized this month and by law Social Studies teachers are required to address this topic in a manner of their choosing. We're combining it with 9/11 to discuss it in conjunction with 9/11.
We're planning to talk about the Patriot Act written after 9/11 and compare/contrast it with the order from Roosevelt after WWII to set up Japanese internment camps. We'll address civil liberties and question if government should go beyond the normal limits of its authority during wartime.
This weekend I recieved my September copy of Social Education and there is a wonderful lesson about "thinking as a founding father" where students can have a window into the influences each man brought to framing the constitution.
We'll also look over the Bill of Rights and some hypothetical situations where students will determine if rights have been violated.http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html
What a great foundation for talking about government in the countries we'll be studying!

WEDNESDAY: DEAR. We'll take the political map test, then we'll begin a review of physical geography terms and concepts we learned while working through our Inspired Ed curriculum.

THURSDAY: It's time to start planning some projects-both technology ...and you guessed it, FOOD! We'll review the BLOG for additions...resources, a BREAD project, and an upcoming tech experience in the MAC LAB soon. Now that we are through with Geography, we'll begin our study of Japan with the Chapter 27 Review!
Progress reports are coming home tomorrow. Please keep the following in mind:
The 7th grade work policy is followed. If students do not have their work, it is a zero and they have 24 hours to bring it in for a 50. Students must present it to the teacher. Work not turned in, lost, misplaced, does receive a zero. I provide ample opportunity for students to receive an easy completion grade on homework to bring up a lower grade on our not-so-easy tests. Another "easy" A will be to simply keep your NOTEBOOK organized. I check this each nine weeks for a notebook grade.

FRIDAY: We'll continue the Chapter 27 Review. MONDAY is the Physical Geography map test. Items count 4 points, spelling is one of those points. There is no word bank. Students did a phenomenal job on the Political Map test on Wednesday. Congratulations!